Safety device for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism



A. G. P. WIINGAARD. SAFETY DEVICE FOR COIN CONTROLLED CLOCKWORK MECHANISM.

I I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7| I918. 1,335,145.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

.AAGE GEORG PETE-Bi WIINGAARD, OFCOPENHAGEN,DE1\TMARK.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED CLOGKWORK MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anon Gnone PETER TVIINGAARD, factory manager, a subject of the Kingdom of Denmark, residing at Copenhagen, N o. 3 Norrevold, Denmark, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Coin-Controlled Clockwork Mechanism, of which the followingis a specification.

The present invention relates to safety devices for coin-controlled clockwork mech anism; and its object is to provide a device which, when applied to, or installed in, mechanism of the general type indicated, will act in such a way as to overcome a defeet in the action of the controlling means.

In mechanism of this character, it often happens that although the clockwork is set to run for a definite periodv of time, it 1s stopped by the accidental displacement of one or other of the controlling members or levers before the expiration of such period. This can frequently be remedied by tilting or shaking the mechanism in order to cause the controller to release the clockwork; but on the other hand, the mechanism can often be fraudulently operated by starting the clockwork in the same manner without in serting a coin.

According to the present invention, the coin-controlling means is so constructed and arranged as to effectively-prevent not only the accidental stoppage of the clockwork during the period for which. it is set, but also the accidental or fraudulent release of the clockwork, without first inserting a coin, after the expiration of such period.

The invention also resides in the provision of a safety device of the above character which will be unaffected by the insertion of coins of smaller size and less value than the coin or coins prescribed.

The accon'ipanying drawing shows the application of one embodiment of the invention, only so much of the clockwork and analogous parts being illustrated, however, as is deemed necessary for an understanding of the invention. v y

In saiddrawing: Figure 1 is afront view of the invention in use; Fig. 2, a side view thereof; and-Fig. 3 aview similar to Fig. 1, but with part of the chute broken away to reveal the coin-receiving pocket.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a coin chute 1 of any suitable or preferred form, leading fromthe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Application filed December 7, 1918. Serial No. 265,743.

usualcoin inlet and having arranged within it a rotatable pocket 4, in the nature of semi-circular cup or wheel, which is mounted on a cross-pin or shaft 2 to turn therewith. This cup or pocket is open-topped, as'represented, so that when it occupies its normal position, it will serve to arrest the passage of a coin through the chute. If the coin is of the proper size, it will be caught and retained in the pocket; but if of appreciably smaller size, it will fall through a slot 10 formed in the bottom of the pocket and continue its passage through the chute without having'any effect upon the clockwork, as subsequently explained.

The pin or shaft 2 projects through the coin chute at one end, and is there provided with a toothed wheel 3, which is so proportioned and connected with the clockwork as to make a single complete revolution during the entire period for which the clockwork has been set, the precise connections forming no part of the invention and, hence, being omitted. The clockwork itself may likewise be of any suitable or preferred character, depending upon the work which it is to perform and the mechanism with which it is associated; but in any case, it will embody a detent 9, here shown as ap' proximately S-shaped, which is fulcrumed or pivoted. at its center and has one end or arm 9 designed for engagement with a stop pin 9 provided upon one of the wheels 9 of the clockwork to stop the same,

while its other arm projects intoposition for cooperation with the improved safety controller.

The latter, in the construction illustrated, has theform of a three-armedlever which is disposed exteriorly of the coin chute and is pivoted at its apex to the front wall thereof, as represented in Fig. l. The two upper arms 6 and 7 of this lever or con troller are angularly related to each other, the right-hand arm 6 having its free upper end or terminal normally resting upon the short lower arm 9* of the detent 9. The left-hand arm 7 of the controller has a laterally-offset terminal 7 which projects into an inwardly-extending recess or slot 1 in the chute, which is formed by cutting away a portion of the chute walls. The third arm 5 of the controller comprises an upper portion which extends horizontally across the front of the chute, and a lower portion which extends vertically downward along the side edge of the chute to a point approximately in line with the shaft 2, at which point it is provided with a laterally-offset, slightly curved toe 8 which projects into the chute through a slot 1 formed in the aforesaid edge wall of the chute.

The operation is as follows, the normal position of the various parts being illus trated in Fig. 1, in which the offset extension 7 of the controller arm 7 is disposed at the open outer end of the notch or recess 1, while the terminal of the arm 6 is engaged with the detent arm 9*, thereby preventing operation of the clockwork: A coin inserted in the chute through the coin inlet, will thus pass freely by the offset 7 and will fall into and be caught in the pocket 4 which is disposed at that time with its open top facing upward in position to receive thecoin; assuming, of course, that the coin is of the proper size, otherwise it will fall through the opening 10 in the bottom of the pocket. Just as the coin reaches the pocket, it strikes against the offset end or toe 8 of the controller arm 5 and pushes said toe outwardly through the slot 1 in the chute edge into the position shown in Fig. 3. The controller is thus caused to rock bodily in a clockwise direction about its pivot, with the result that the end 7 of its arm 7 is moved inwardly of the recess 1 while its arm 6 presses down upon the detent arm 9* and thereby rocks the detent anti-clockwise, the upper arm 9 of the detent thus being disengaged from the stop pin 9 on the wheel 9 of the clockwork. The latter is thereupon released and immediately starts run ning, rotating the wheel 3 and, consequently, the shaft 2 and the coin pocket 4.

During the first half-revolution of the pocket, the several parts are maintained in the position above described by means of the coin, which remains in contact with the toe 8; but by the time that the pocket has completed this half-revolution, it has become inverted and the coin drops out and falls through the discharge end of the chute. The toe 8 is still retained in its outer position, however, because it is engaged by the rim of the pocket immediately it is released for contact with the coin. Accordingly, the controller cannot return to its original position until the pocket has made an entire revolution, during which period the offset end 7 of the controller arm occupies its inward position within the recess 1 and thus prevents passing of a second coin through the chute, as will be understood from the dotted-line showing in Fig. 1.

When the pocket completes its revolution, which occurs simultaneously with the expiration of the period for which the clockwork has been set, the pocket will again have assumed its Fig. 4 position, leaving the toe 8 free to move inwardly through the construction and mounting, in which its long upper arm 9 reengages the stop pin 9 thereby arresting the movement of the clockwork. The extension 7 of the controller arm 7 moves outwardly of the recess 1 when the return movement of the controller takes place, and thus clears the chute for the passage of another coin therethrough.

The double engagement between the detent and the stop pin, and the former and the controller arm 6, effectively prevents the clockwork from being released either accidentally or by tilting or shaking the apparatus. Furthermore, the invention as a whole is, in a sense, entirely independent of the clockwork in that it may be applied thereto without regard to the duration of the period for which the clockwork is capable of running, and interferes in no way with the winding operation.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A safety-attachment for'coin-controlled clockwork mechanism comprising, in combination with a coin chute; a member for stopping the clockwork; a controller for said stopping member; and a coin-receiver mounted in the chute below said controller and adapted to be rotated by the clockwork; said controller having a part which projects into said chute immediately above said receiver in position to be engaged and operated to start the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the controller will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the re ceiver, and by the receiver itself during its second half-revolution.

2. A safety-attachment for coin-controlled cloclnvork mechanism comprising, in combination with a coin chute; controlling means for the clockwork; and an opentopped coin-receiving pocket rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be actuated by the clockwork; said controlling means including a member having a part which projects into the chute immediately above said pocket in position to be engaged and operated, to start the clockwork by a coin entering the pocket, whereby said member will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the pocket, and by the pocket itself during its second half-revolution.

' 3. A safety-attachment for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism comprising, in combination with a coin chute; means for controlling the starting and stopping of the clockwork; and a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be actuated by the clockwork; said controlling means including a pivoted member having a part which projects into the chute immediately above the receiver in position to be engaged and operated to start the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby said member will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver, and by the receiver itself during its second half-revolution, said member automatically returning to normal position at the completion of said second half-revolution to effect the stoppage of the clock work.

4. In a safety-attachment for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism, the combination, with a coin chute; of a detent normally engaged with the clockwork to hold the same against movement; a controller for the detent; and a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be driven by the clockwork; said controller having a part which projects into the chute immediately. adjacent the receiver in position to be engaged and operated to release the detent from the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the controller will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver, and by the receiver itself during its. second halfrevolution; said controller automatically returning to its normal position at the completion of said second half-revolution to effect the reengagement of the detent with the clockwork.

5. In a safety-attachment for coin-eontrolled clockwork mechanism, the combina tion, with a coin chute; of a detent normally engaged with the clockwork to hold the same against movement; a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be driven by the clockwork; and a rocker comprising an arm operatively associated with the detent and a second arm having a part which projects into the chute immediately adjacent the receiver in position to be engaged and rocked by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the first-named arm will disengage said detent from the clockwork and the second-named arm will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver and by the receiver itself during its second halfrevolution.

6. A safety attachment for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism, comprising, in combination with a coin chute; a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be driven by the clockwork; and controlling means for the clockwork normally holding the same against operation and comprising a part which is disposed within the chute in position to be engaged and operated to release the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the controller will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver, and b the receiver itself during its second hal revolution.

7. A safety attachment for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism, comprising, in combination with a coin chute; a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be driven by the clockwork; and controlling means for the clockwork normally holding the same against operation and comprising a part which is disposed within the chute in position to be engaged and operated to release the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the controller will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver, and by the receiver itself during its second half-revolution; and means operated by said controlling means for preventing the passage of a second coin through the chute during the revolution of the receiver.

8. A safety attachment for coin-controlled clockwork mechanism, comprising, in combination with a coin chute; a coin-receiver rotatably mounted in the chute and adapted to be driven by the clockwork; controlling means. for the clockwork normally holding the same against operation and comprising a part which is disposed within the chute in position to be engaged and operated to release the clockwork by a coin entering the receiver, whereby the controller will be held in operated position by such coin during the first half-revolution of the receiver, and by the receiver itself during its second half revolution; and an arm connected with said controlling means and movable thereby into position to prevent the passage of a second coin through the chute during the revolution of the receiver.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AAGE GEORG PETER WIINGAARD.

Witnesses CHAs. TENDE, FASETT KERR. 

